Interconnect architecture for field programmable gate array

ABSTRACT

An FPGA architecture is provided which uses logic unit output lines of more than one length and provides extension lines to increase the reach of a logic unit output line. The architecture allows extremely fast connections between one logic unit and another. Also, all logic unit output lines drive about the same number of buffered programmable interconnection points (PIPs) so that the signal delay between one logic unit and the next can be predicted regardless of the functions and routing which have been selected by a user. The frequency of PIPs decreases as distance from the originating logic unit increases. This has the benefit of cooperating with software which tends to place interconnected logic in close proximity. The architecture is preferably implemented with a tile layout with one logic unit in each tile, and logic unit input and output lines extending through several tiles. Thus one tile boundary is like another and there is minimum hierarchy.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/368,692,filed Jan. 4, 1995. That application issued on Dec. 3, 1996, as U.S.Pat. No. 5,581,199.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to field programmable gate arrays. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an interconnect architecture fora field programmable gate array.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional field programmable gate array ("FPGA") is a programmablelogic device that consists of a matrix of configurable logic elements("CLEs") embedded in a configurable interconnect mesh. The configurationcontrol of the CLE functions and routing network define the function ofthe device. The device is referred to as a "field programmable" devicebecause the array of CLEs contained in the device can be configured andinterconnected by the user in the user's facility by means of specialhardware and software.

FPGAs are well known in the art. For example, R. Freeman, ConfigurableElectrical Circuit Having Configurable Logic Elements and ConfigurableInterconnects, U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,302, issued 26 Sep. 1989 describes aconfigurable logic array that includes a plurality of CLEs variablyinterconnected in response to control signals to perform a selectedlogic function, and in which a memory is used to store the particulardata used to configure the CLEs. W. Carter, Special Interconnect ForConfigurable Logic Array, U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,487, issued 10 Feb. 1987describes a special interconnect circuit for interconnecting CLEs in anFPGA without using the general interconnect structure of the FPGA. W.Carter, Configurable Logic Element, U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,216, issued 10Nov. 1987 describes a CLE that includes a configurable combinationallogic element, a configurable storage circuit, and a configurable outputselect logic circuit.

A CLE may be electrically programmed by control bits to provide any oneof a plurality of logic functions. A CLE may include the circuitelements necessary to provide an AND gate, flip flop, latch, inverter,NOR gate, exclusive OR gate, and certain combinations of thesefunctions, or a CLE may include a look-up table that offers a user allfunctions of several input signals. The particular function performed bythe CLE is determined by control signals that are applied to the CLEfrom a control logic circuit.

In a field programmable device, the CLE is configured to implement aselected one of its functions without any change in physical structure.In general, a specific set of control signals is transmitted to aspecific CLE to control the configuration of that CLE or a set of valuesis loaded into a look-up table to provide the truth table of the desiredfunction. Control signals are applied to every CLE in the device. Thevalues of the control bits provided to a CLE depend upon the functionthe CLE is to perform. The configuration of each CLE is thereforedetermined by the user's intended function of the integrated circuit.

A conventional FPGA comprises a plurality of CLEs, each CLE having inputleads and one or more output leads, a general interconnect structure,and a set of programmable interconnection points (PIPs) for connectingthe general interconnect structure to each input lead and each outputlead. Also, each lead in the general interconnect structure can beconnected to one or more other interconnect leads by programming anassociated PIP.

The various PIPs in an FPGA are typically programmed by loading memorycells which control the gates of pass transistors or by connectingselected antifuses in an antifuse FPGA. A specific FPGA configurationhaving a desired function is created by configuring each CLE and formingpaths through the interconnect structure within the FPGA to connect theCLEs.

Each PIP in an FPGA is programmed by opening or closing one or moreswitches associated with the PIP, such that a specified signal path isdefined. Such switches may be implemented by applying a control signalto the gate of a pass transistor. Alternatively, if the PIP is part of amultiplexer in which only one of several PIPs will be turned on at onetime, several control signals may be decoded to determine which PIP isturned on.

One problem with the known approach to routing signals through an FPGAinterconnect structure is caused by using many pass transistors to forma path. Each transistor has an impedance. As a result, several passtransistors connected in series can introduce a significant impedanceinto a path. Additionally, each interconnect lead and pass transistorintroduces a capacitive element that combines with the impedance toproduce a propagation delay over the associated path. Delay isespecially pronounced if a long path is required because the path may beimplemented through several shorter segments and several passtransistors. There is a need for an architecture which avoids the delayof longer paths and offers resource-efficient short paths.

In addition to avoiding long delays, it is desirable to offerpredictable delay. The signal path chosen to interconnect one logicelement to another logic element is governed by algorithms implementedin software routines. The user may exercise some control over the signalpaths chosen by the software, but it is not practical for the user tocontrol all signal paths in a design. The software may choose a largenumber of different interconnect segment and switch combinations torealize a particular signal path. Since the number of interconnectsegments and pass transistors will vary from combination to combination,the delay through the signal path may also vary significantly, dependingon the choice made by the software. This variation in delay isundesirable. It would be further advantageous to provide an FPGAinterconnect structure that did not have significant delay differencesdepending upon the signal path realized by the software.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a repeatable structure isprovided which includes a logic unit capable of receiving input signalsfrom a plurality of input lines and providing a plurality of outputsignals on a corresponding plurality of output lines, the output linesof one logic unit being of more than one length. The output lines of onelogic unit extend past other logic units. Provided periodically alongeach output line is a plurality of interconnection points (PIPs). ThePIPs allow the output lines to be connected to input lines of otherlogic units. This combination of output lines of differing lengths andPIPs allows a user to connect logic units either to nearby logic unitsor to logic units some distance away.

According to another aspect of the invention, the number of PIPs whichmay be driven by one output line is approximately the same as the numberof PIPs which may be driven by each other output line. Most PIPs arebuffered, that is, they comprise a buffer followed by a connector suchas a transistor. Providing an approximately equal number of bufferedPIPs on each output line produces the benefit that signals whichpropagate a short distance on an output line have approximately the samedelay as signals which propagate a longer distance on a longer outputline.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the frequency of PIPsdecreases as distance from the originating logic unit increases. Thishas the benefit of cooperating with software which tends to placeinterconnected logic in close proximity.

As another feature, the architecture can connect selected output linesto other output lines so that a signal path can be extended. Thisfeature eliminates the necessity for undedicated line segments used inconventional FPGAs, although it also can work with an embodiment whichincludes undedicated line segments.

A tile is a schematic drawing of a portion of a circuit in whichelements and lines are positioned such that an array of tiles placedside by side shows electrical continuity across the tile boundariesbetween lines in adjacent tiles. The architecture is preferablyimplemented using tiles, with one logic unit in each tile, and logicunit input and output lines extending through several tiles. One tileboundary is like another and in one embodiment there is minimum routinghierarchy. It is not necessary that all tiles be alike, although unliketiles which are placed adjacent to each other must be compatible attheir boundaries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a and 1b show tile architectures incorporating the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the meaning of symbols used in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 3-6 and 9-14.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of a multiplexer array which may be used inFIG. 1b.

FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate one tile according to a preferred embodimentof the invention.

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate portions of the tile of FIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIG. 5c is an enlarged view of the mux array of FIG. 4b.

FIGS. 5d-5g show detail of structures in FIG. 4b.

FIG. 6a illustrates the equivalent circuit formed by the illustratedlines in FIGS. 5a and 5b when adjacent tiles are connected to form anFPGA circuit according to the invention.

FIGS. 6b and 6c illustrate most of the equivalent circuit formed by thestructure of FIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIG. 7 is another illustration of the circuit formed by tiles of thearchitecture of FIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIG. 8a illustrates one embodiment of a CLE used in conjunction with theinvention.

FIG. 8b illustrates another embodiment of a CLE which can be used withthe invention when a carry chain is not provided.

FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate a west tile usable with the embodiment ofFIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrate a north tile usable with the embodiment ofFIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIG. 11 illustrates a west edge tile usable with the embodiment of FIGS.4a and 4b.

FIG. 12 illustrates a north edge tile usable with the embodiment ofFIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIG. 13 illustrates an east edge tile usable with the embodiment ofFIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIG. 14 illustrates a south edge tile usable with the embodiment ofFIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIG. 15 illustrates the general arrangement of an FPGA which combinestiles of the types shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, and 11-14.

FIG. 16 illustrates one embodiment of an input/output block used inconjunction with the invention.

FIG. 17 shows a boundary scan structure used with the input/output blockof FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be implemented by forming an array ofidentical tiles adjacent to one another. The lines in a single tile areshown such that when tiles are joined, a single CLE or logic unit andits associated input and output lines extends over several tiles. Asingle tile includes portions of many input and output lines associatedwith many different logic units. A single input or output line is madeof segments, each of which is implemented in a different tile. Here theterm "segment" will be used to refer to that portion of a line which isimplemented in a tile, and the term "line" will refer to an entireelectrically continuous conductor.

FIG. 1a shows a simple embodiment which incorporates features of theinvention. In FIG. 1a, twelve identical tiles T11 through T14, T21through T24, and T31 through T34 which are part of a larger FPGA areshown. Each tile includes a logic unit, which typically performs acombination of logic and routing functions. Thus, tiles T11 through T34include corresponding logic units L11 through L34. Each logic unitreceives input signals on five logic unit input lines I1 through I5 anddrives five logic unit output lines O1 through O5. Logic unit outputlines O1 through O3 are direct connections to adjacent CLEs andtherefore serve as input lines I1 through I3 in adjacent tiles. Forexample output line O1 in tile T22 is also logic unit input line I1 intile T11, output line O2 in tile T22 is input line I2 in tile T12, andoutput line O3 in tile T22 is input line I3 in tile T21. By contrast,output lines O4 and O5 are programmably connectable to logic unit inputlines and are of different lengths from one another. Output line O4extends one tile to the east and output line O5 extends three tiles tothe east. Output line O4 from tile T21 extends into tile T22 where itstops. Output line O5 from tile T21 extends into tile T24 where itbecomes input line I5 of logic unit L24 in tile T24.

Each tile includes an array of programmable interconnection points(PIPs), each of which programmably connects two intersecting lines wherethe PIP is located. In FIG. 1a, each PIP array includes four PIPs. Forexample, PIP array PA11 in tile T11 includes PIPs P111, P112, P113, andP114. Output line O4 of tile T21 is programmably connectable to inputline I4 of tile T22 through PIP P221 and to input line I4 of tile T12through PIP P224. Thus output line O4 accesses two PIPs. Output line O5also accesses two PIPs. For example, output line O5 in tile T21 accessesPIP P222 in tile T22 (which connects to input line I4 in tile T22) andPIP P233 in tile T23 (which connects to input line I4 in tile T13).

Thus the embodiment of FIG. 1a illustrates the logic units, the outputlines of more than one length, the input lines, and the array of PIPswhich programmably connect output lines to input lines.

PIP Array

A PIP array allows a user to choose whether to connect one line toanother line. Each PIP has a programmable element that may be programmedby a user to open or close a switch. Thus the PIP array allows specificoutput lines to be coupled to specific input lines by the appropriateprogramming of the switches. In FIG. 1a, each PIP is represented by atriangle having its apex pointing upward or north. The top row of FIG. 2shows some of the possible circuits which may implement this north PIP.

As indicated in the top row of circuits in FIG. 2, either a north PIP Nor a south PIP S is implemented by a buffering device which receivesinput from a horizontal line H and is followed by a programmableconnecting device N2 programmed by the output signal from a memory cellM. The connecting device (for example a pass transistor, transmissiongate, or antifuse) receives an input signal from the buffering device.If the memory cell has been loaded with the proper value, the connectingdevice provides the buffered signal to the vertical line V.

Using a buffering device in conjunction with a switch causes the PIP tobe directional. Of course, once a signal is placed onto a conductiveline, the voltage which represents that signal is the same on the fulllength of the conductive line, thus the line itself is not directional.Therefore a south PIP has the same meaning as a north PIP.

Circuit 31 illustrates an inverter I31 as the buffering device and anN-channel pass transistor N2 as the connecting device. Inverting bufferI31 has an input terminal connected to horizontal line H and generatesan inverted and buffered version of the signal on line H. If memory cellM has been loaded with a logic 1, transistor N2 provides the outputsignal from inverting buffer I31 to vertical line V. Circuit 32illustrates a noninverting buffer as the buffering device with anN-channel pass transistor as the connecting device, and circuit 33illustrates an XOR gate as the buffering device, which in response to asecond memory cell M2 either inverts or does not invert the inputsignal. The connecting device is again a pass transistor. Depending uponthe structure of the logic unit, other logic gates such as a NAND gateor an AND gate can serve as buffering devices. A second memory cell M2or an internally generated control signal enables the gate to respond tothe input signal. If circuit 31 is used to provide an inverted bufferedsignal, the polarity of the signal must be inverted in its destinationCLE if the number of buffered PIPs is odd. Since an inverter I31 such asshown in circuit 31 is fast, small and efficient, it may be preferred touse this inverted implementation of a buffered PIP. FIG. 2 is furtherdiscussed in connection with FIGS. 4a and 4b.

Multiplexer Embodiment. FIG. 1b

In one embodiment of the invention, each logic unit comprises aconfigurable logic element (CLE) and a multiplexer array or mux array.For example, in FIG. 1b logic units L11-L34 each comprise a respectiveone of CLEs C11 through C34 and mux arrays MA11 through MA34. The samereference numerals have the same meanings in both FIGS. 1a and 1b. Inputlines, output lines, and PIP arrays are the same as in FIG. 1a, and arethus not described again. Within a logic unit, note that input lines I1through I3 are applied to the corresponding mux array MA while outputlines O1 through O3 are taken from the corresponding CLE. In addition,an output line O6 from the CLE connects to input line I6 in the muxarray.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b, all tiles have the samearchitecture. In still other embodiments, adjacent tiles have differentarchitectures. Tiles at the edges and corners of the FPGA chip typicallyhave different architectures from those in the center of the array, aswill be discussed below.

Multiplexer Array

FIG. 3 illustrates one mux array which works with the embodiment of FIG.1b. Mux array MA21 includes two multiplexers MUX1 and MUX2, each ofwhich receives five input signals from five input lines I1, I2, I3, I5,and I6 and provides a selected one of the five input signals as itsoutput signal. Memory cells M1-M6 allow each of multiplexers MUX1 andMUX2 to be separately programmable to select one of the five inputsignals to place onto its respective output line. Multiplexer MUX1provides an output signal on output line O4 and multiplexer MUX2provides an output signal on output line O5. Output lines O4 and O5couple the multiplexer output signals to PIPs located one or more tilesaway, as shown in FIG. 1b.

Whereas the mux array of FIG. 3 is an encoded structure in which threecontrol signals, for example M1, M2, and M3 cause the multiplexer, forexample MUX2, to select one of five input signals to place onto itsoutput line, another structure can be provided in which a separatememory cell controls each line. In such an embodiment, software whichgenerates the values which are to be placed into each memory cellassures that only one of the five memory cells causes its input line tobe connected to the output line.

Referring back to FIG. 1b, output line O5 is formed in four segments infour adjacent tiles. For example, output line O5 from mux array MA21occupies segment O5-0 in tile T21, segment O5-1 in tile T22, segmentO5-2 in tile T23, and segment O5-3 in tile 24, which is applied to muxarray MA24 as input line I5. As described with reference to FIG. 3,input line I5 provides input signals to both of multiplexers MUX1 andMUX2. Multiplexers MUX1 and MUX2 also both receive input signals onlines I1 through I3 and I6 from four adjacent CLEs. In tile T22 of FIG.1b, for example, mux array MA22 receives input signals from CLEs C22,C23, C32, and C33. Thus, although mux array MA22 is illustrated as beingassociated with CLE C22 in logic unit L22, in fact mux array MA22 isjust as closely associated with three other nearby CLES.

A mux array may connect an output signal from any of four neighboringCLEs or from another mux array to an output line of a selected length.Providing a choice of output lines having different lengths (two in thiscase) offers a user the option of providing an output signal to the nextadjacent tile or to tiles further away.

Output Lines

There are a number of important features associated with the outputlines.

1. Different lengths. First, different output lines originating from agiven mux array have different lengths. For example, in FIG. 1b, outputline O4 from tile T21 extends one tile east, whereas output line O5extends three tiles east. Note that the offset feature illustrated ineach of the tiles, by which a horizontal line is offset lower beforereaching a tile boundary, allows a single continuous line to extendthrough several tiles and at the same time allows adjacent tiles to beidentical. The offset illustrates the connectivity which results whentiles are joined but this offset may not be present in an actual layoutof such a structure on silicon.

2. Output lines drive approximately equal loads. Second, the differentoutput signals originating from different multiplexers in a mux arrayare each applied to approximately the same number of PIPS, or the PIPsare sized such that each output line drives approximately the samecapacitive load. For example, in FIG. 1b, the signal on output line O4from mux array MA21 is applied to two PIPs in tile T22, and outputsignal O5 is applied to one PIP in tile T22 and one PIP in tile T23. Asis well known in the art, propagation delay is caused by capacitive loadand resistance associated with the output lines. Most of the capacitiveand resistive loading experienced by the output lines comes not frommetal lines but from circuits which tap off the metal lines. Since allPIPs in FIG. 1b are buffered, as shown in FIG. 2, the capacitive loadingexperienced by a metal output line (for example O5) driving two PIPs(PIPs P222 and P233) includes the gate regions of transistors in the PIPbuffers (for example gates of transistors P1 and N1 in inverting bufferI31 of FIG. 2). But the capacitive loading experienced by this outputline does not include the source, drain, and channel regions of thetransistors in the buffers (for example, source, drain, and channel oftransistors P1 and N1 of FIG. 2) or the source, drain, and channelregions of transistors driven by the buffers (for example transistor N2in FIG. 2 and any transistors on vertical line V), because these buffergate regions (i.e. gates of P1 and N1 in FIG. 2) are isolated from thestructures driven by the buffers. Capacitive loading experienced by anoutput line is independent of whether the pass transistor (for exampleN2 in FIG. 2) in the PIP is turned on. Thus, the capacitive loadings ofoutput lines O4 and O5 of FIG. 1b are predictable and approximately thesame even though (a) their lengths are different, and (b) the circuitdesigner does not know which PIPs a user will turn on. Thus, outputsignals from a given mux array arrive at a variety of PIPs atapproximately the same time.

Each buffered PIP drives approximately the same load. Several PIPs candrive the same input line. However, no more than one PIP will be turnedon at one time to connect its respective output line to the same inputline. Thus, the capacitance of an input line includes the source/draindiffusion regions of the transistors such as N2 of FIG. 2 not turned on,the conductive path (source, drain, and channel) of the transistor N2which is turned on, and the conductive path of the buffer transistor N1or P1 which drives the load. Since the capacitance and resistance of theinput line is approximately the same regardless of which PIP is drivingthe input line, the delay contributed by the input line is predictable.For example, the delay in propagating a signal from mux array MA21 toCLE C22 is approximately the same as the delay in propagating a signalfrom mux array MA21 to CLE C13. This near constant delay helps to maketiming of user designs implemented in an FPGA using the presentinvention predictable.

3. PIPs Decrease with Distance. A third feature associated with theoutput lines is that the number of PIPs accessed by a mux array outputline decreases as the distance from the mux array increases. Forexample, in FIG. 1b, considering output lines O4 and O5 of mux arrayMA21, the number of PIPs accessed in tile T22 is three, the number ofPIPs accessed in tile T23 is one, and the number of PIPs accessed intile T24 is zero.

Some placement algorithms ensure that CLEs having a high number ofelectrical connections to other CLEs are placed close to each other.Therefore, the logic implemented in tile T21 is likely to require moreelectrical connections to the logic in tile T22 than to the logic intile T23 and even less in tile T24. Because the number of PIPs connectedto output lines in a given column of tiles determines the number ofpossible electrical connections to those tiles, the structure of FIG. 1boffers a statistical match between the distribution of PIPs and the needof a user to make particular connections. Specifically, the distributionof PIPs according to the present invention improves connection optionswhile minimizing the total number of PIPs. Minimizing PIPs decreasescapacitance, thereby increasing speed of the signal path, and alsominimizing chip area, thereby decreasing chip cost.

4. Extensions. A fourth feature associated with the output lines is thatat least one output signal from a mux array is provided to another muxarray, thereby allowing the signal to be propagated farther with minimumdelay. For example, output line O5 of tile T21 is input line I5 of muxarray MA24. This signal may then be coupled to output line O5 in muxarray MA24, thereby allowing the signal to be propagated farthereastward. The number of PIPs in a signal path increases by two each timethe signal path passes through a mux array.

5. Several CLE Connections. Preferably, several direct connections fromone CLE (FIG. 1b) to a nearby mux array or from one logic unit (FIG. 1a)to a nearby logic unit offer high speed and flexible connectivity forcommonly used connections. Output lines O1, O2, and O3 offer connectionsto nearby CLEs or logic units in the northwest, north, and westdirections, respectively.

Input Lines

An input line carries a signal from a selected one of a plurality ofPIPs to a logic unit or CLE input port. In FIG. 1b, input lines I4connect one of four PIPs to a respective CLE input port. (In FIG. 1bonly one input line I4 to a CLE is shown, although in an actual CLE,input signals will be available from several input lines, as will bediscussed in connection with the preferred embodiment.) For example,regarding CLE C24, if PIP P241 in tile T24 is connected, input line I4to CLE C24 is driven by a signal on output line O4 from tile T23. If PIPP242 is connected, input line I4 is driven by a signal on output line O5from tile T23. If PIP P243 is connected, input line I4 is driven by asignal on output line O5 of tile T22. The fourth PIP which drives inputline I4 in CLE C24 is in tile T34. If PIP P344 in tile T34 is connected,input line I4 to CLE C24 is driven by a signal on output line O4 in tileT33.

Preferred Embodiment

FIGS. 4a through 16 illustrate several views of a preferred embodimentof the invention.

FIGS. 4a and 4b together show one complete tile according to a preferredembodiment. FIGS. 5a and 5b show this same tile with lines removed inorder to simplify the discussion. FIG. 6a shows one of the structureswhich results when an array of tiles shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b isconnected. FIGS. 6b and 6c show most lines in the structure whichresults when an array of tiles shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b is connected.FIG. 7 shows another representation of the structure of FIG. 6b. Thesefigures will now be described collectively.

FIGS. 4a and 4b include the same major elements illustrated in FIG. 1b,i.e. a repeatable tile is shown having a CLE and a mux array, segmentsof output lines, segments of input lines, and PIP arrays. At the upperleft corner of FIG. 4a is a CLE. Also in FIG. 4a are two PIP arrays,north PIP array PAN for directing signals from the mux array north andsouth PIP array PAS for directing signals from the mux array south. Toensure predictable timing, in a preferred embodiment all PIPs whichdrive logic unit input lines are buffered connections except that PIPswhich extend the reach of a multiplexer output line are unbufferedconnections. Use of both a south arrow and a north arrow is employed inFIGS. 4a through 14 to indicate the signal flow which results from thePIP, even though the N and S PIP symbols represent the same structure.

FIG. 4b illustrates mux array MA, east PIP array PAE and west PIP arrayPAW for directing signals from mux array MA east and west respectively.As shown in the middle row of FIG. 2, the east and west PIPs E and Wrepresent the same structure, but represent a different structure fromthe north and south PIPs N and S. An east or west PIP indicates that asignal on vertical line V is first buffered, then optionally connectedto horizontal line H. Circuits 34, 35, and 36 illustrate three possibleimplementations of an east or west PIP. In the case of E and W PIPs, theinput line is vertical line V and the output line is horizontal line H.

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate a portion of FIGS. 4a and 4b, specifically,those multiplexers in mux array MA which generate eastgoing outputsignals and segments of one input line driven by PIP array PAN, namelythe G1 input line of configurable logic element CLE. Also remaining inFIGS. 5a and 5b are the CLE output lines X, Y, XQ and YQ. Note that bycombining a group of tiles such as in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the output linesX, Y, XQ and YQ of configurable logic element CLE provide input signalsto four different mux arrays MA.

Line segments in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, and 5b are given letter and numbercombinations to indicate their length and direction. For example, linesegment EPDa0 is an east-going PIP-driving segment of a double lengthline zero tiles from where the line originates. Line segment EXD1 is aneast-going extension segment of a double length line one tile from wherethe line originates. Line segments in FIGS. 5a and 5b are also givensimpler two-digit numbers and the same numbers are used in FIGS. 6a and7 to indicate the same segments.

The tile of FIGS. 5a and 5b, includes adjacent segments 51 and 52. In anarray of tiles, each tile has a segment 51 and a segment 52. Segment 51in a given tile electrically connects to segment 52 in the tile directlyto the east, thereby forming one double length line E1, as illustratedin FIG. 6a by segment 51 in tile T909 and segment 52 in tile T910.Similarly, another pair of segments 53 and 54 shown in FIGS. 5a and 5balso join, as shown in FIG. 6a at the junction of tiles T909 and T910,to form another double length line E2. Each of these double-length linesE1 and E2 can be connected in PIP array PAN (see FIG. 5a) to the G1input line of a respective CLE. Line segments 55 and 56 in tiles T911and T912 form line E4 thus further illustrating the continuity from tileto tile provided by joining adjacent tiles having the structure of FIGS.5a and 5b.

The collection of PIPs illustrated in FIG. 5b as MUX3E behaves as amultiplexer because a control structure (not shown but well known)allows only one of the PIPs in multiplexer MUX3E to be connected at onetime to line segment 51. Multiplexers MUX3E, MUX4E, and MUX5E eachselectively connect one of eight input signals to an east going outputline segment 51, 53, or 58, respectively. In multiplexer MUX3E, eightPIPs connect a selected one of CLE lines X, Y, XQ, YQ, and quad-lengthextension line segments EXQ5, NXQ5, SXQ5, and WXQ5 to line segment 51.The eight input signals received by multiplexer MUX4E are from the fouradjacent CLEs on lines X, Y, XQ and YQ and four nearby mux arrays, oneast extension line segments EXD3, NXD3, WXD3 and SXD3. MultiplexerMUX5E selects from the same set of eight input signals as multiplexerMUX4E in the present embodiment. The output line from multiplexer MUX5Eis a quad-length line E3 including line segment 58 in tile T909, segment59 in tile T910, segment 60 in tile T911, and segment 61 in tile T912.Thus (see FIG. 6a) quad-length line E3 extends almost four tiles to theright of mux array MA909, through four MUX arrays, to provide an inputsignal to multiplexer MUX7E in tile T912.

FIG. 5c is an enlarged view of mux array MA of FIG. 4b. Most labels atthe left and top of FIG. 5c are line labels while most labels at theright of FIG. 5c are segment labels. Multiplexers MUX3S and MUX3W arelabeled at the bottom of FIG. 5c and includes eight PIPs which drivesouth output line S1. Starting from the top PIP of MUX3S, PIPs areavailable to connect the eight input lines Y, S5, YQ, E5 (segment EXQ5),W5 (segment WXQ5), N5 (segment NXQ5), XQ, and X to output line S1. Inone embodiment, a control structure not shown turns on only one or noneof these eight PIPs to drive output line S1. In another embodiment, anynumber of PIPs from zero to eight can be turned on, and software whichdetermines which PIPs to turn on selects no more than one PIP to turnon. (If none of the eight input PIPs is driving output line S1, adefault constant voltage will be applied to the line to avoid leavingthe line floating, for example by connecting a small pullup resistor tothe line.)

Multiplexer MUX3W drives west output line W1. There are twelvemultiplexers in mux array MA. For simplicity, other multiplexers are notlabeled in FIG. 5c. However, the other ten multiplexers in mux array MAcan be deduced by looking at multiplexers MUX3S and MUX3W and themultiplexers labeled in FIG. 5b. In this embodiment, the eight inputlines which can be connected to a multiplexer output line always includethe four CLE input lines X, Y, XQ, and YQ, and include either the doublelength extension lines N4, S4, E4, and W4 or the quadlength extensionlines N5, S5, E5, and W5. Of course, many other embodiments can beenvisioned, and the invention is not limited to the illustratedembodiment.

In FIG. 5c, line length can be deduced from looking at the groupings ofline segments into a line. Line E1 includes two segments and istherefore two tiles long. Line E4 is somewhat more than two tiles longas it includes a short line segment EXDO at the right of FIG. 5c and ashort line segment EXD3 at the left of FIG. 5c. Line E3 includes foursegments and is thus four tiles long. Line E5 is somewhat more than fourtiles long, having segments less than a full tile length at the rightand left of FIG. 5c. From this explanation, line lengths can be deducedfrom examining segments in the complete tile of FIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIGS. 6a-6c give an overview of the connectivity which results whenadjacent tiles are joined. Mux array MA909 in tile T909 receives muxarray input signals from CLEs C909, C910, C1009 and C1010 in tiles ofthe same suffix. These mux array input signals from CLE's are shown witharrowheads to emphasize the direction of signal flow. Mux array MA909provides output signals in four directions, as is illustrated in FIG.6b. However, for simplicity, FIG. 6a illustrates only the eastgoingoutput signals. FIGS. 6a-6c are also simplified from the structure bynot showing all CLE input lines and related PIPs. Whereas FIGS. 4a and4b show 12 CLE input lines F1-F4, G1-G4, and C1-C4, FIGS. 6a-6c show atmost one or two input lines to a CLE and the related PIP connecting fromthe output line.

At the right edge of tile T910 in FIG. 6a, extension multiplexer MUX6Ereceives input signals from segments 52 and 54 and provides an outputsignal on segment 55 in tile T911 which connects to segment 56 in tileT912. The diagonal line symbols shown in FIG. 5b in extensionmultiplexer MUX6E are illustrated in FIG. 2 by diagonal line 21. Thisdiagonal line symbol is used to represent an unbuffered PIP. Anunbuffered PIP can be implemented by a single pass transistor as shownin circuit 37 of FIG. 2, by a transmission gate (comprising a P channeltransistor and an N channel transistor in parallel) as shown in circuit38 of FIG. 2, by an antifuse, fuse, EPROM, EEPROM, or by any other formof connection.

Returning to FIG. 6a, also provided from multiplexer MA909 is aquad-length line E3 comprising line segments 58 through 61 in adjacenttiles T909 through T912. Signals on line segments 61 and 56 (lines E3and E4) are applied at the right edge of tile T912 to multiplexer MUX7E,as also illustrated in FIG. 5b, which drives a quad-length line E5comprising line segment 62 in tile T913 through line segment 66 in tileT917. (Line E5 is actually about 4 1/2 tiles long.) Line E5 in turnprovides an input signal to mux array MA917 in tile T917.

Regarding FIG. 5b, the illustrated part of mux array MA comprises threemultiplexers MUX3E-MUX5E for directing signals eastward. Adjacent to muxarray MA are the two extension multiplexers MUX6E and MUX7E. Each ofthese multiplexers is controlled by a multiplexer control structure (notshown but well known) which causes only one of the PIPs in thatmultiplexer to be turned on at one time, thereby selecting whichmultiplexer input signal is provided on that multiplexer's output line.For example, in multiplexer MUX3E, the control structure selects one ofthe signals from lines X, Y, XQ, YQ from four adjacent CLEs, and one ofthe signals from quad-length extension line segments EXQ5, NXQ5, SXQ4,and WXQ5 from mux arrays four tiles away to the east, north, south, andwest, respectively. Refer to FIG. 4b for a full illustration ofquad-length lines ending in line segments NXQ5, SXQ4, and WXQ5.

Multiplexers MUX3E, MUX4E, and MUX5E illustrated in FIG. 5b useunbuffered PIP connections as illustrated in the bottom row of FIG. 2,for example by circuit 37 or 38, followed by a buffer. FIGS. 5d and 5eillustrate these multiplexers in greater detail. A symbolicrepresentation of multiplexer MUX3E is illustrated in FIG. 5d, and theactual circuit is illustrated in FIG. 5e. The eight vertical linesegments YQ, EXQ5, X, NXQ5, SXQ5, Y, WXQ5, and XQ (which bear the samelabels in earlier figures) are the eight input lines to multiplexerMUX3E. To provide sufficient drive, buffer B1, which in FIG. 5e is twoinverters in series, drives segment EPDaO and the remainder of line E1.FIGS. 5b and 5d show buffers B1 at both ends of the output line, becausethe output signal from the buffer B1 propagates in both directions onthe conductive line or segment connected to the buffer output terminal.However, the circuit is not actually implemented with two buffers, ascan be seen in FIG. 5e. Multiplexers MUX4E and MUX5E are implementedwith equivalent structures. Each multiplexer output buffer B1 drivesapproximately the same load or the same number of PIPs. Drivingapproximately the same number of buffered PIPs with multiplexers MUX3E,MUX4E and MUX5E of FIG. 5b ensures that signals will arrive at theirrespective destinations at approximately the same time. Since the signaloutput by MUX3E, MUX4E or MUX5E has just been buffered, this bufferedsignal provides sufficient drive that extension multiplexers MUX6E andMUX7E. may be unbuffered.

FIG. 5f shows multiplexer MUX6E with its two input lines EPDa1 andEPDb1, and two unbuffered PIPs which drive output segment EXD0. Onecircuit for implementing multiplexer MUX6E is shown in FIG. 5g. A singlememory cell 79 causes one and only one of lines EPDa1 and EPDb1 to beconnected to extension segment EXD0. Multiplexer MUX7E may use the samestructure. However, multiplexers MUX6E and MUX7E may also be implementedusing buffered connectors.

Referring to FIGS. 5a, 5b, and 6a, some output lines extend two tileseast and some extend four tiles east. For example the output line E1from multiplexer MUX3E extends two tiles east and comprises linesegments 51 and 52. Output line E3 from multiplexer MUX5E extends fourtiles east and comprises segments 58-61. Note particularly line segments56 and 57. In FIG. 5b, at the right edge of the figure, line segment 56connects at the tile boundary to line segment 57 and also through a hardconnection (solid black dot) provides input to multiplexer MUX7E. Thussegment 57 extends line E4 somewhat more than two tiles long. Similarly,the quad-length line E5 comprising segments 62-66 is somewhat more thanfour tiles long.

In FIGS. 4a and 4b, each output line from a multiplexer in mux array MAdrives 24 to 28 buffered PIPs. For example, in FIG. 4a, the output linecomprising segments EPDa0 and EPDa1 drives 12 PIPs in each of PIP arraysPAN and PAS and also drives vertical long line VLL7 and the input lineto tristate buffer A. It is desirable that only one long line, in thiscase VLL7, be driven by a multiplexer output line because the bufferedPIPs which drive long lines are much larger than PIPs in the PIP arrays,and having a large number of long line PIPs would cause a significantincrease in delay.

Extension multiplexers MUX6E and MUX7E extend the signal provided by muxarray MA909 (FIG. 6a) for a length of eventually eight tiles, i.e. tomux array MA917 of tile T917 if extension multiplexers MUX6E and MUX7Eare carrying that signal. In this case, since extension multiplexersMUX6E and MUX7E are unbuffered, the appropriate one of multiplexersMUX3E, MUX4E, or MUX5E drives 8 unbuffered PIPs, each of which providesan input signal to 8 multiplexers in the next mux array MA913 or MA917reached by extension multiplexer MUX6E or MUX7E in addition to the 26buffered PIPs. This causes a slight increase in delay when an extensionline is being used. However, in a preferred embodiment, the increase isnot significant because the eight unbuffered PIPs providing inputsignals to eight multiplexers, are laid out such that an output linesuch as E1 drives only four small source or drain diffusion areas andthe capacitance of these four diffusion areas is small compared to thecapacitance of the 24-28 gates in the buffered PIPs plus capacitance ofthe metal lines which are always driven by a multiplexer output line. Inthe embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b, a buffer thus drives in the range of24 to 32 load devices. Since one of these load devices is a large longline drive transistor, the range of delay for signals driven by amultiplexer buffer varies by only about 20%.

Thus the delay caused by placing a signal on any output line from muxarray MA909 is approximately the same, regardless of the line length andregardless of whether the extension multiplexers are used.

FIG. 4a also includes lines which carry signals specific to thesynchronous portion of the CLE, i.e. a clock line K, a set/reset lineS/R, an asynchronous set/reset line ASR, a parallel enable line PE and aclock enable line CE. These set/reset, parallel enable and chip enablelines are all global lines which extend to every CLE in the entire FPGAchip. The clock line K may be driven either by a global signal or by alocally derived signal, as programmed by the user. Sources for clocksignal K include multiplexer output signals which can be seen byexamining the positions of PIPs in FIGS. 4a and 4b. Additionally, clocksignal K may be derived from a vertical line such as VG0 through VG3 inFIG. 4a.

Also shown in FIG. 4a are additional lines which are useful in an actualproduct. These include horizontal long lines HLL0 through HLL7 andvertical long lines VLL0 through VLL7 for interconnecting widely distantportions of the FPGA. Buffered PIPs allow output signals from mux arrayMA to be placed onto these horizontal and vertical long lines. Note thatonly one PIP is provided for applying each of the mux array outputsignals to a corresponding vertical or horizontal long line. The tile ofFIGS. 4a and 4b is typically one of many tiles, for example part of asixteen by sixteen array. In one embodiment, these long lines haveequivalent connections in other tiles through at least half the lengthof the entire chip. Thus, it is preferred to minimize the number of PIPswhich drive these long lines in order to minimize long line propagationdelay.

Horizontal bus lines HTL0 and HTL1 can be driven by tristatable buffersA and B which are controlled by vertical tristate control line VTC.Input signals to tristate buffers A and B may be derived from, forexample, line segment SPDa0 or SPDa1 extending vertically in FIG. 4b orby one of the additional sources for these tristate buffer input signalsillustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIGS. 6b and 6c show some of the connectivity which occurs when tileshaving the structure of FIGS. 4a and 4b are joined. FIGS. 6b and 6cdiffer from the preferred embodiment in FIGS. 4a and 4b by notillustrating all input lines to the respective CLEs and their associatedPIPs. FIG. 6b shows one mux array MA909 and some of the CLE input lineswhich it can drive through just one PIP. Because of the number of signallines physically close together in FIG. 6b, few labels have beenattached to the elements near the center of the picture. However, tileT909 and mux array MA909 near the center of the figure are labeled.Surrounding mux array MA909 at four corners are the four CLEs C909,C910, C1009, and C1010 (see FIG. 6c) which were shown and labeled inFIG. 6a but are unlabeled in FIG. 6b. Output lines from mux array MA909extend in four directions, and are shown to connect mux array MA909 tofour mux arrays MA913 to the east, MA905 to the west, MA509 to thenorth, and MA1309 to the south, which are each four tiles away from muxarray MA909. Further extension multiplexers MUX7E, MUX7W, MUX7N andMUX7S allow mux array MA909 to send a signal eight tiles away to muxarray MA917 to the east, MA901 to the west, MA109 to the north, andMA1709 to the south, which are each eight tiles away from mux arrayMA909. This signal sent eight tiles away uses a conductive path whichmust pass through only one transistor if the signal passes through oneextension multiplexer such as MUX7E or two transistors if the signalpasses through two extension multiplexers such as MUX6E and MUX7E.

Also illustrated in FIG. 6b are CLEs which can be accessed by mux arrayMA909 through only one PIP. The portion of FIG. 6b marked by a dashedline labeled FIG. 6c is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 6c. Asillustrated in FIG. 6c, if a user wants to apply an output signal frommux array MA909 to CLE C1010, for example, there are six differentoutput lines from mux array MA909 which can be used, lines E1, E2, W1,W2, S1 and S2. (Lines W1 and W2 extend through mux array MA909, and thePIPs for accessing CLE C1010 are at the east ends of lines W1 and W2 tothe right of mux array MA909.) PIPs are provided for connecting linesE1, E2, W1, and W2 to input line 1010S of CLE C1010. PIPs are providedfor connecting lines S1 and S2 to input line 1010E of CLE C1010. Asdistance from mux array MA909 increases, fewer PIPs are provided. Forexample, if a user wants to apply an output signal from mux array MA909to CLE C1111, there are three different output lines from mux arrayMA909 which can be used, E1, E2, and S3, since PIPs are provided toconnect lines E1 and E2 to input line 1111S of CLE C1111 and to connectline S3 to input line 1111E of CLE C1111. And further away, CLE C1113can be accessed by mux array MA909 on only one line E3 through one PIPto input line 1113S of CLE C1113.

As illustrated in FIG. 6c, each output line from mux array MA909accesses eight PIPs. Output line E1 accesses four PIPs in tile T909 andfour PIPs in tile T910. Output line E2 has the same arrangement. Outputlines E1 and E2 each access CLEs C809, C909, C1110 and C1010 throughPIPs in tile T909 and CLEs C910, C810, C1111 and C1011 through PIPs intile T910. Output line E3 accesses CLEs C911, C811, C1112 and C1012through PIPs in tile T911 and accesses CLEs C912, C812, C1113, and C1013through PIPs in tile T912. Similar arrangements are provided for thenorth, south, and west output lines. (FIG. 6c does not show all CLEinput lines available in the embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b. In thatembodiment each output line accesses 24 PIPs which in turn accessrespective CLE input lines, as well as PIPs which in turn drive otherstructures such as long lines extending through many tiles.)

FIG. 7 provides yet another illustration of the connectivity offered bythe mux array of FIGS. 4a and 4b. As illustrated in FIG. 4b, mux arrayMA receives twelve input signals on twelve input lines and comprisestwelve multiplexers.

Each multiplexer selects an input signal from eight of the twelve inputlines, as was discussed above in connection with FIG. 4b. FIG. 7illustrates structures outside mux array MA of FIG. 4b including thetwelve input lines and twelve output lines. Labels in FIG. 7 correspondto those of FIGS. 5a-6c. Input line I5-4 of mux array MA909 is outputline E4 from mux array MA905 four tiles to the west. Input line I5-8 isoutput line E5 from mux array MA901 eight tiles to the west. Similarly,input line I6-4 is output line W4 from mux array MA913 four tiles to theeast, and input line I6-8 is output line W5 from mux array MA917 eighttiles to the east. Likewise, input line I7-4 is output line S4 from muxarray MA509 four tiles to the north and input line I7-8 is output lineS5 from mux array MA109 eight tiles to the north. Finally, input lineI8-4 is output line N4 coming from mux array MA1309 four tiles to thesouth and input line I8-8 is output line N5 from mux array MA1709 eighttiles to the south.

As was discussed in connection with FIG. 4b, the 12 multiplexers in muxarray MA909 each select from eight of the 12 input signals to drive oneoutput line: three eastbound lines E1, E2, and E3, three westbound linesW1, W2, and W3, three northbound lines N1, N2, and N3, and threesouthbound output lines S1, S2, and S3. Thus, each mux array in thisembodiment of the invention may be programmed to allow any one of fournearby CLE output lines, or four of the eight mux array output lines toconnect to selected ones of its 12 mux array output lines, in this casethe 12 output lines originating from mux array MA909.

Output Lines.

The following output lines in FIG. 7 have a length of two tiles: E1, E2,E4, W1, W2, W4, N1, N2, N4, S1, S2, and S4; and the following lines havea length of four tiles in this embodiment of the invention: E3, E5, W3,W5, N3, N5, S3, and S5. The PIP connections decrease as the distancefrom the source mux array increases. The output lines directlyoriginating from the mux array have a substantially balancedprogrammable switch load. Also, mux array output lines are coupled toother mux array output lines to provide extension capability.

Extension Multiplexers

The following discussion describes the extension multiplexers for theeastbound mux array output lines. This description is identicallyapplicable to extension muxes used with the north, south, and westlines. Multiplexer MUX6E couples one of lines E1 and E2 to line E4, asprogrammed, while multiplexer MUX7E couples one of lines E3 and E4 toline E5. Because lines E4 and E5 are coupled to the driving means in themux array through a pass transistor, they have no buffer to assist inreducing the resistive-capacitive delay incurred on signal paths usingthese lines. These lines are used mainly for extending the routing toremote tile locations. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5g, oneor the other input line to extension multiplexer MUX6E is alwaysconnected to extension segment EXD0 and thus to extension line E4. Thesame is true for multiplexer MUX7E.

PIP Array

The PIP array for this embodiment of the invention is similar to that ofFIG. 1b. Each small circle in FIG. 7 represents a pip array having 12PIPs, each connecting to a CLE input line. Each CLE has 12 input lines,each input line having a length of two tiles (see FIG. 4a). Three of theinput lines extend east, three west, three north, and three south. Forhorizontal output line E1 in FIG. 7, the 12 PIPs connect to three inputlines F1, C1, and G1 to the CLE located in the same tile, three inputlines F1, C1, G1 to the CLE located one tile to the north, three inputlines F3, G3, and C3 to the CLE located one tile to the southeast, andthree input lines F3, C3, G3 to the CLE located south southeast. Forvertical output line N1, the two PIP arrays each connect to three inputlines to the CLE located in the same tile, three input lines to the CLElocated one tile to the east, three input lines to the CLE located onetile to the west, and three input lines to the CLE located two tiles tothe east. The general distribution of these CLE connections can beunderstood by viewing FIG. 6b, although FIG. 6b does not show all CLEinput lines accessed in the embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b.

Configurable Logic Element CLE

FIG. 8a illustrates a configurable logic element usable with theinvention. FIG. 8a simply represents the interior structure of the CLEillustrated in FIG. 4a. Input and output line numbers in FIG. 8a are thesame as those indicated in FIGS. 4a and 4b as CLE input and outputlines. Configuration memory cells which control multiplexers or provideconstant input signals to multiplexers are represented by circles. Twofunction generators F and G also include configuration memory cells, 16memory cells in each of function generators F and G, and each functiongenerator receive four input signals which select one of the 16 storedvalues to provide as the function generator output signal. Thus, eachfunction generator provides any function of the input signals. Thesefunction generator input signals are from lines F1, F2, F3, F4 for the Ffunction generator and G1, G2, G3 and G4 for the G function generator.Signals on the F1 and G1 lines however are multiplexed with a cascade-insignal CIRF or CIRG, each of which is a direct output signal CORF orCORG from the neighboring CLE (see relationship to neighboring CLE inFIGS. 4a and 4b).

To implement an arithmetic function, one bit is handled in each of thefunction generators. Multiplexers N1 and N2 are set to forward thevalues from M1 and M2 to input terminals of carry multiplexers CF andCG. Similarly, multiplexers L1 and L2 are set to forward the outputs offunction generators F and G to the control terminals of carrymultiplexers CF and CG.

Multiplexers L1, L2, M1, M2, N1, and N2 offer additional functionalityin use of the carry multiplexers CF and CG. Multiplexers L1 and L2 canbe set to provide a constant value stored in memory cells 5 and 6. Thevalue stored in cell 5 or 6 can cause carry multiplexer CF or CG toselect the output of multiplexer N1 or N2. When multiplexers N1 and N2are set to provide a constant value 1 from cells 3 and 4, carrymultiplexers CF and CG provide the OR function of the carry-in signaland the value from multiplexers L1 and L2. When multiplexers N1 and N2are set to provide a constant value 0 from cells 3 and 4, carrymultiplexers CF and CG provide the AND function of the carry-in signaland the value from multiplexers L1 and L2. Thus wide AND or wide ORfunctions can easily be generated. Multiplexers M1 and M2 select one ofthe input signals to the F and G function generators to apply as aninput signal to multiplexers N1 and N2 respectively. Memory cells 7 and9 control multiplexer M1 and memory cells 8 and 10 control multiplexerM2. Thus the following functions can be generated by the multiplexers ofFIG. 8a while other functions are being simultaneously generated in theF and G function generators:

C_(i+1) =0

C_(i+1) =1

C_(i+1) =A_(i)

C_(i+1) =C_(i)

C_(i+1) =C_(i) AND F_(i)

C_(i+1) =C_(i) OR F_(i)

Adder operation

where the suffix i+1 refers to the next highest bit from the suffix i ina carry chain.

Note that whereas the carry chain extends vertically through the CLE andvertically through the chip to other CLEs, the CLE of FIG. 8a alsoincludes a horizontally extending cascade chain for accessing both afunction generator and a register in each CLE. The F cascade-in lineCIRF provides an input signal to the F function generator throughmultiplexer I1 and to the related register R1 through multiplexers E1and D1. The F cascade-out line CORF can be driven by the cascade in lineCIRF, by the F function generator, by register R1, by a constant, or byline C1 or C4 as selected by related multiplexers O1, V1, J1 and K1.Lines CIRG and CORG are similarly connected. These cascade lines allowfunctions of more than 4 inputs to be implemented with better timingthan if inputs were joined through mux arrays.

It can be seen in FIG. 8a that multiplexers L1 and L2 allow carrymultiplexers CF and CG to be used for skipping and initialization whilethe function generators are used for other purposes. Multiplexers N1 andN2 allow initialization and logic functions without using up one of thefunction generator input signals and the routing thereto (not shown,positioned to the left of the figure, for example).

Multiplexers in the CLE of FIG. 8a allow the user flexibility in routingsignals through the CLE. Also included are flip flops R1 and R2 whichprovide registered output signals. The routing multiplexers provide thatmany choices of signals derived from the function generators, flipflops, and other multiplexers can in turn be provided as output signalson lines X, Y, XQ, YQ, CORF and CORG.

Another embodiment similar to FIG. 8a includes a fifth input to thestructure comprising multiplexers M1 and N1 (and their equivalents M2and N2). If desired, the fifth signal is provided as the output of N1.This embodiment has the advantage that the functions listed above can beimplemented by multiplexers while the related function generator F isable to simultaneously implement any function of the four input signalsF1-F4 which it receives. The CLE of FIG. 8a is further described by Newand Pierce in copending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 08/310,113.

Edge Tiles

When an FPGA chip is to be made using the invention, edge tiles mustalso be provided to interface with external pins and pads and tocomplete the connectivity of the tile structure. FIGS. 9a through 15show detail of some preferred embodiments of the edge tiles and overallconnectivity which results when a set of tiles is joined. FIG. 15 showsthe overview of an FPGA chip. In the core of the chip a plurality oftiles as illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b are placed. Tiles numbered 155and 156 represent structures which are different from those illustratedin FIGS. 4a and 4b. For example RAM structures may be placed in some ofthe tile locations, such as those labeled 155-158 and accessed throughthe cascade-in lines CIRF, and CIRG and cascade-out lines CORF, and CORGillustrated in FIG. 4a, also FIG. 8a.

In FIG. 15, to the west of the core region including tiles labeled FIGS.4a and 4b are west tiles labeled FIGS. 9a and 9b. One of these westtiles is illustrated in FIGS. 9a and 9b. And to the west of this westtile is the west edge tile illustrated in FIG. 11.

In FIG. 9a, instead of the CLE of FIG. 4a, the tile includes aninput/output block IOB. Input/output block IOB communicates with twoexternal pads (and pins). This IOB is illustrated in FIG. 16 anddiscussed below. In FIG. 9a pullup resistors can be programmed toconnect horizontal tristate lines HTL0 and HTL1 to a positive voltagesupply when these lines would otherwise be left floating.

In FIG. 9b, horizontal long lines HLL0 through HLL7 can each be drivenby a vertically extending line as discussed in connection with FIG. 4b.No west driving PIP array PAW is provided since no core tile exists tothe west of the west tile of FIGS. 9a and 9b. A-pad input line AIN2 andB-pad input line BIN2 from input/output block IOB replace lines YQ and Xof FIG. 4b. Except for these differences, FIGS. 9a and 9b are like FIGS.4a and 4b.

Likewise, the north tile of FIGS. 10a and 10b is similar to a core tileof FIGS. 4a and 4b. Again, in FIG. 10a, the CLE of FIG. 4a is replacedby an IOB and no north extending PIP array PAN is provided. Therefore,in FIGS. 10a and 10b, input and output signals from the IOB aredifferent from the signals from the CLE of FIGS. 4a and 4b.

Wrap Around At Edges

Four edge tiles are illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 14. FIG. 11illustrates a west edge tile which provides routing lines and PIPs, andalso includes a wrap around feature which allows lines extending westfrom a core tile to be used for routing signals to the east. With thiswrap around feature, there is no loss of routing flexibility near theedge of the chip. Other routing lines in edge tile of FIG. 11 alsoimprove the flexibility of routing near the edge of the array. Similarstructures are illustrated in FIGS. 12-14 for providing extra routinglines and the wrap around feature.

Timing Maintained at Edges

The number of PIPs attached to lines extending into the edge tiles hasbeen selected so as to maintain the same loads on lines extending intothe edges of the chip, and thus the edges maintain approximately thesame timing as is present in the core of a chip.

Carry Signal Wrapping

Looking at FIGS. 4a, 10a and 14 together, one can also see a wrappingfeature for the carry signal. The carry-out line COUT of FIG. 4a movessouth through successive tiles until reaching the south edge tile ofFIG. 14. Here, the COUT line turns west and becomes the carry-forwardline CF. In the next tile west, FIG. 14 illustrates that this carryforward line CF extends west and then turns north. Looking again at FIG.4a, the CF line can again be seen carrying the signal north. In thenorth tile, as shown in FIG. 10a, the north going carry forward line CFturns west and then south where it becomes the carry-in line CIN to thenext tile south. Thus a carry chain is maintained from one column to thenext. Furthermore, the carry chain progresses in the same direction(from top to bottom in this case) in every column, so the software canplace logic functions which use the carry feature into the device moreeasily.

Corner Tiles

FIG. 15 illustrates four corner tiles numbered 151-154. These cornertiles cooperate with the adjacent tiles to provide a connectedstructure. Typically, corner tiles provide global functions including aclock oscillator and dividers, one or more configuration lines and pinsfor receiving a configuration bit stream and loading memory cells in thechip, a reset control structure, and other startup control structures.These corner structures are known from other FPGA devices available inthe market and are not again described herein.

Input/Output Block

FIG. 16 illustrates an input/output block IOB usable with the invention.The IOB includes two pads PAD A and PAD B for connecting to externalpins of the chip. Each pad can serve as an input pad or an output pad asestablished by the memory cells (represented as circles) which are partof the configuration memory of the chip. The left portion of FIG. 16relates to PAD A and the right portion to PAD B. Signal lines whichextend outside the border of the IOB have names which correspond tothose in FIGS. 9a, 10a, 13, and 14.

The upper left portion of FIG. 16 provides output control of PAD A whenused as an output pad. Buffer 173 is a tristate buffer and is turned ononly when PAD A is an output pad. Memory cell 191 controls the slew rateof buffer 173, and memory cell 194 controls the capacitive/resistiveresponse of buffer 173. This buffer is described more completely byPierce and Carpenter in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,252, which is incorporatedby reference. Multiplexer 165 controls whether buffer 173 is in atristate (high impedance, for input) mode or whether buffer 173 drivesthe output signal from multiplexer 172 to PAD A (output mode).Multiplexer 171 can provide a registered signal from register 170 or anasynchronous signal to multiplexer 172. The registered or asynchronoussignal provided by multiplexer 171 is the A output signal AO asforwarded or inverted by XOR gate 166. The registered signal is storedin response to the output clock signal AOCK which is either inverted ornot by XOR gate 167 in response to its related memory cell. The GSR lineprovides a global set/reset signal to all IOBs in the chip. Register 170is either set or reset by global set/reset line GSR as determined by amemory cell which controls AND gates 168 and 169. Also available asoutput signals are a constant high and a constant low signal as providedby pullup transistor TUP and pulldown transistor TDN under control ofmemory cells 193 and 192.

The lower left portion of FIG. 16 is input circuitry used when PAD A isan input pad. Buffer 174 can provide an asynchronous input signalthrough multiplexer 175 to input multiplexers 182 and 183 which provideinput signals AIN1 and AIN2. The input signal on PAD A can also bestored in register 181 under control of input clock signal AICK whichmay be inverted or not by XOR gate 179. The clock input to register 181is enabled by input clock enable line ICE. Register 181 is set or resetby global set/reset line GSR as determined by a memory cell whichcontrols AND gates 178 and 180. The two input signals AIN1 and AIN2 fromPAD A can thus be derived asynchronously from buffer 174 as driven byPAD A, or synchronously as driven by either the Q output of register 181or the QL (latch) output of register 181. Register 181 offers as outputsignals both the Q output signal from the slave latch of the registerflip flop and the QL output signal from the master latch. of the flipflop. Thus register 181 can act as a latch or a flip flop.

Also provided in the IOB of FIG. 16 is delay unit 176 (for example aseries string of inverters each having intrinsic capacitance). It issometimes desirable to delay a signal provided on an external pad suchas PAD A when the signal will be provided to a register controlled by aglobal clock slightly delayed from the signal on the input pad. Delayunit 176 is controlled by a memory cell which selects between twoamounts of delay. Multiplexer 177 in operating mode is controlled by itsrelated memory cell to either provide the delayed signal from delay unit176 or the direct signal buffered by buffer 174 from PAD A. In a testmode, the TEST control signal causes multiplexers 175 and 177 to forwardthe signal on line IUP to one or both input lines AIN1 and AIN2 (asdetermined by multiplexers 182 and 183) and also to provide the IUPsignal to the D input of register 181.

Another feature is provided in FIG. 16, namely the ability to captureand update signals to and from the chip. Lines TSUP, TSCAP, OUP, OCAP,ICAP and IUP provide this ability. Lines TSCAP, OCAP, and ICAP are usedto capture the tristate control signal, output signal, and input signalwhich are present on the respective lines. Line OCAP can capture eitherthe registered Q output signal from register 170 or the AO output signalfrom XOR gate 166, whichever is forwarded by multiplexer 171. Line TSCAPcaptures the tristate control signal provided on line AT and eitherinverted or forwarded by XOR gate 161. The signal captured by line TSCAPis either registered or asynchronous as determined by multiplexer 164.Line ICAP can capture the buffered signal from PAD A. These capturedsignals are useful when debugging or testing a design. If it is desiredto override a part of the circuit during testing, lines TSUP, OUP, andIUP can be used to apply a signal to a respective point in the circuit,a feature also useful for testing and debugging.

The right portion of FIG. 16 functions in the same manner for PAD B andthus can be understood from symmetry.

FIG. 17 illustrates part of a boundary scan structure which extendsaround the perimeter of the chip for scanning data into and out ofregisters in the IOBs. Registers 194-196 form part of a shift registerextending around the perimeter. Four pins allow data to be read into andout of this shift register. Such a structure is described further onpages 8-46 through 8-52 of The Programmable Logic Data Book, © 1994,available from Xilinx, Inc. at 2100 Logic Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95124,incorporated herein by reference. Data shifted into the shift registerfrom test data in line TDI are transferred to registers such as 197-199in response to a global Update signal and become the update signals IUP,OUP, and TSUP applied to multiplexers 175, 172, and 165 respectively(shown in both FIGS. 16 and 17). A high TEST signal causes these signalsto be applied to input multiplexers 182, 183 (FIG. 16), outputmultiplexer 172, and output tristate control multiplexer 165, thusoverriding signals provided by the chip. Similarly, data which have beengenerated by the chip can be captured through the same shift register byapplying a capture signal to the Shift/Capture line, which causes dataon PAD A, output register 170 and tristate control register 163 to becaptured into registers 194, 195, and 196 where it can then be shiftedout on line TDO. The UP signals come from an update register (not shown)and the CAP signals are stored in a capture register (not shown).

Summary

Although the invention is described herein with reference to a number ofembodiments, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that otherembodiments may be substituted for those set forth herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For oneexample, in alternating tiles the CLE of FIG. 8a can be replaced by theCLE of FIG. 8b which does not include the multiplexer structureincluding multiplexers L1, M1, N1, CF, B1, L2, M2, N2, CG, and B2, andXOR gates S1 and S2 for forming a carry chain, and thus the FPGA chipcan be made smaller than an FPGA chip in which all tiles include the CLEof FIG. 8a. For another example, the CLE of FIG. 8a can be replaced by aplurality of tiles, each tile comprising a CLE and an interconnectstructure, thus producing a hierarchically connected FPGA. For anotherexample, the long lines illustrated in FIG. 4a can be implemented as aplurality of lines of more than one length so that larger devices havingmore tiles also have more and longer interconnect lines. For yet anotherexample, the three input lines extending into a CLE, which are all twotiles long in the illustrated embodiments, may be of different lengths.In particular, input lines to a single CLE may be of more than onelength, for example line Fl may be of a different length than line G1,thus achieving the greater flexibility discussed above with respect tooutput lines. The invention is set forth in the claims.

We claim:
 1. A field programmable logic device comprising:a plurality oflogic units, each logic unit connecting to:a plurality of output linesextending from said logic unit; and a plurality of input lines extendinginto said logic unit, each input line connected to said logic unit so asto provide an input signal to said logic unit comprising at least afirst input line and a second input line, said first input line beingshorter than said second input line; and a plurality of programmableinterconnection points (PIPS), each PIP being programmable to connectone of said output lines to one of said input lines; and a multiplexerreceiving input signals from a plurality of said output lines andplacing a signal from a selected one of said output lines onto anextension line extending in the same direction as one of said outputlines, said extension line serving as a further input line to one ofsaid logic units.
 2. A field programmable logic device as in claim 1 inwhich one of said PIPs connects an output line from a first logic unitto an input line of a second logic unit.
 3. A field programmable logicdevice as in claim 1 in which one of said PIPs connects an output linefrom a first logic unit to an input line of said first logic unit.
 4. Afield programmable logic device as in claim 1 in which said logic unit,output lines, input lines and PIPs are laid out in repeatable tiles,each tile including output lines, input lines, PIPs, and all portions ofsaid logic unit, such that when a plurality of tiles are placed adjacentto each other, said field programmable logic device is formed.
 5. Afield programmable logic device as in claim 1 in which said first andsecond input lines connect to the same number of PIPs.
 6. A fieldprogrammable logic device as in claim 1 in which each of said logicunits comprises:a logic element receiving some of said input lines forperforming logical operations on signals received on said input lines,and providing an output therefrom; a multiplexer array driving some ofsaid output lines; and at least one line which receives an output signalfrom said logic element and provides an input signal to said multiplexerarray, said multiplexer array also receiving a signal from at least oneother logic unit.
 7. A field programmable logic device as in claim 1 inwhich some of said logic units comprise:a logic element receiving someof said input lines for performing logical operations on signalsreceived on said input lines, and providing an output therefrom; amultiplexer array driving some of said output lines; and at least oneline which receives an output signal from said logic element andprovides an input signal to said multiplexer array, said multiplexerarray also receiving a signal from at least one other logic unit;and inwhich other of said logic units comprise: a random access memoryreceiving signals on some of said input lines and supplying signals tosome of said output lines.
 8. A field programmable logic device as inclaim 1 in which said PIP comprises a buffer having an input terminalconnected to said output line and having an output terminal connected toa switch which programmably connects a buffer output signal to saidinput line.
 9. A field programmable logic device comprising a pluralityof logic units, each logic unit connecting to:a plurality of outputlines extending from said logic unit; a plurality of input linesextending into said logic unit, comprising at least a first input lineand a second input line, said first input line being shorter than saidsecond input line, each input line connected to said logic unit so as toprovide an input signal to said logic unit; and a plurality ofprogrammable interconnection points (PIPs), each PIP being programmableto connect one of said output lines to one of said input lines;eachlogic unit comprising: a logic element for performing logical operationson signals received on said input lines and providing a logic elementoutput signal therefrom; a multiplexer array driving some of said outputlines; and receiving as input signals said logic element output signaland a logic element output signal from at least one other logic element.10. A field programmable logic device comprising a plurality of logicunits, each logic unit connecting to:a plurality of output linesextending from said logic unit; a plurality of input lines extendinginto said logic unit, comprising at least a first input line and asecond input line, said first input line being shorter than said secondinput line, each input line connected to said logic unit so as toprovide an input signal to said logic unit; and a plurality ofprogrammable interconnection points (PIPs), each PIP being programmableto connect one of said output lines to one of said input lines;some ofsaid logic units comprising: a logic element for performing logicaloperations on signals received on said input lines and providing a logicelement output signal therefrom; a multiplexer array driving some ofsaid output lines; and receiving as input signals said logic elementoutput signal and a logic element output signal from at least one otherlogic element;and others of said logic units comprising: a random accessmemory receiving input signals from some of said output lines andsupplying output signals to some of said input lines.
 11. A fieldprogrammable logic device comprising a plurality of logic units, eachlogic unit connected to:a plurality of output lines extending from saidlogic unit; a plurality of input lines extending into said logic unit,comprising at least a first input line and a second input line, saidfirst input line being shorter than said second input line, each inputline connected to said logic unit so as to provide an input signal tosaid logic unit; and a plurality of programmable interconnection points(PIPs), each PIP being programmable to connect one of said output linesto one of said input lines;in which PIPs are placed on an output linesuch that the number of PIPs in one tile portion of an output linedecreases as distance from said logic unit increases.